The following items are acceptable to place in the recycling cart: metal cans, plastic bottles or jugs with #1-7 symbols, plastic bags #2 and #4, paper, cardboard, magazines, and newspapers. Items should be clean, and cardboard should be broken down inside the cart.

All residential homes within the village/township are eligible for curbside recycling, as long as their winter property tax bill with the recycling surcharge has been paid.

The surcharge, up to $25 per year for each resident, was formerly used to fund the community drop-off site behind Bill’s Auto. That site will be closing on March 31.

According to Williams, the surcharge will not completely cover the cost of collection, so Hopkins Township has agreed to pay the difference, approximately $1,000 to $3,000 per year.

To register for curbside recycling, residents can visit www.allegancounty.org and select Recycling and Hopkins Township Sign-Up, or visit the Township Hall /Hopkins District Library where sign-up forms are available. Register by March 1. Carts will be dropped off in March.

The new plan is for residential use only. Commercial property owners may visit the county recycling website or call (269) 686-4559 to get information about their recycling options.